Soccer: the key to a good offensive line(edit how to shoot)

Now keep in mind the experience I've had with forwards is much more limited than the experience I've had with defenders. but forwards mimic the defensive line in many ways, much of being a forward you can figure out by reading about what good defenders watch for, good forwards are the ones that are already there. To get a shot off, or a goal is really what your looking for you have to break the defensive line in some way. forwards need to be quick, excellent ball handlers, precise aim, and a strong shot or cross. <-- I am very sleepy so if my words aren't in the correct order, bear with me >

You know forget this, instead I'm going to tell you how to take a good shot, penalty shots, and practice. Do no practice by lining up at the top of the box and taking shots with stationary balls, you will never do this in a game so don't bother. Fine someone to either pass it up to you, or start farther back dribble it forward to the outside of the penalty box and take your shot. Do not toe punt*, Do not kick high. The most successful shots are between the knee and chest, on the left or right side of the goal, shots can be shot slightly higher the farther towards the edges your shoot. generally if you shoot high, you get carried away and the ball far excedes the outer edges of the goal, it's much better to shoot tighter, many time if you shoot lower the goalie will not gain control of the ball and it will bounce back into the box, which is far preferable to allowing the other team to get a goal kick.

(to kick the ball with the very tip of the shoe, the correct way to kick with which your toe pointed towards the ground so you get the ball with your laces.)


When taking a penalty shot you should always make up your mind whether you will go right or left while you are looking at the ground, then look up, look at the goalie, look to the one side, then the other taking exactly the same amount of time on each. If possible you want to be directly behind the ball, this will make it difficult for the goalie to determine which foot you are using and thus have a harder time deriving which side you are going to shoot too. When the whistle is blown, keep your eyes on the ball, you already know where you are going to kick it, Optimally you will aim for a spot between the back and front post about waist height, that shot, is almost garunteed to go in. you must keep your body from making an arc backwards, if you look up to far or your body weight tilts back the ball will go to high. you need to keep your weight balanced, far enough to the front that the ball stays at a consistent height.

May of these tips go for any time you are shooting, some of them are penalty kick specific, penalty kicks are pretty much the only shot that you will be taking stationary, practice them with or without a goalie, in the end you will need to at least have someone standing in the box.

there are exceptionally important things to practice as a forward, finishing, and turn and shoot.
finishing, is taking a ball that may have been deflected that is in the penalty box, you have one touch to put the ball in the goal, before the keeper or defenders get to it, a common mistake is to hit it as hard as you can, mentally you are treating it like a clear ball, It goes over. You lose. You have to think of it as a pass, keep it on low, steady, controlled, pass it into the goal.

Second turn and shoot, this is where you are faced away from the goal, there are no defenders behind you, if you were turned the other way you'd have a clear shot at goal, you have to train yourself to turn on a dime and one touch to the goal, you can do this by yourself. get a ball, turn you back to the goal, put your foot on top of the ball, turn and shoot, this will mean you need to change the balls position to put it in front you going to opposite direction, but close enough you can take your shot first touch, this is an absolute necessity, you will need this.

*One touch take a shot or make a pass with the first contact you have with the ball.

when practicing to take shots in general you really need another person to practice with you, they should cross it in for you, practice that alot, crosses are a fantastic way to put yourself in an unexpected position, next you will want to have them pass it in front of you at the top of the penalty box, as your running, and one touch* it, finally have them pass it to you from the goal post, to outside the box where you will one touch it. After practicing one touches like this for awhile switch to 3-4 touches and practice all the passes like this. Remember there will be people in your way, and other teammates to pass it to but doing these types drills will improve your ability as a forward immensely. When you are practicing try to keep your weight balanced and aim well, do not shoot over the goal, the best kick you can do is a hard shot between knee and head shoulder level, try for this when practicing.

if your shots go over you need leave farther forward when you shoot, this is keep you from pull the ball so far into the air.

If you are a wing (left or right forward) you will need to practice putting the ball in between the goal box and the penalty box, it will need to be in the air to begin with but should either drop to the ground or be head level by the time it passes the opposite post. this is an instance you will need to lean back a little bit to get the height you need.

one more thing to practice as a forward, get your dribbling up to speed, if you make a break-away you need to be able to run as fast as possible and maintain control of the ball, this means, practice sprinting and dribbling, this can be a task. The key is to keep the ball close enough to you that the goalie can't run up but far enough ahead you don't have to touch it to many time as doing so slows you down. To practice this you will need a goalie/friend to just run up on you, if they see an opportunity.

ok done. Enjoy.

Leah